“One Term to Save Nigeria: Jonathan’s Secret Deal to Challenge Tinubu Revealed”
In a twist that could upend Nigeria’s political landscape, former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is being courted for a dramatic return to Aso Rock in 2027—this time, for a single-term presidency aimed at national rescue.
A top confidant of the Bayelsa-born statesman revealed to Vanguard that Jonathan has quietly accepted the challenge and is now engaging in high-level consultations across the country. The source said the move is part of a grand plan to pull Nigeria back from the brink of economic despair, surging poverty, and widespread insecurity.
The Power Behind the Push
Spearheaded by influential PDP elders and northern leaders, the strategy is gaining momentum. These political heavyweights argue that Jonathan’s previous six-year rule brought stability, fostered growth, and avoided the kind of political and economic chaos Nigeria faces today. They believe his return could serve as a “healing term” and prepare the ground for power to return to the North by 2031.
Jonathan has reportedly met with General Ibrahim Babangida behind closed doors in Minna and is currently on a consultation tour in the South-South. Although details of his Port Harcourt meetings remain sealed, sources say the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
Behind-the-Scenes Negotiations
According to PDP insiders, Jonathan has not only welcomed the idea but is laying down conditions—including whether he’ll face internal party primaries or receive an automatic ticket. His close allies say he is “open and listening,” consulting with trusted advisers and political stakeholders.
The PDP leadership is reportedly split between staging a competitive primary and granting Jonathan an automatic ticket. Daniel Woyengikuro, PDP’s National Financial Secretary, made it clear: “We need someone who can salvage this nation—and that person is Goodluck Jonathan.”
Constitutional Minefield
But not everyone agrees that Jonathan can legally run again.
Legal experts are sharply divided. While some argue that a 2018 constitutional amendment bars anyone sworn in twice from contesting again, others say the law cannot apply retroactively, especially since Jonathan’s first swearing-in in 2010 followed President Umaru Yar’Adua’s death and was not the result of an election.
In a 2022 ruling, the Federal High Court in Yenagoa backed Jonathan’s eligibility, affirming that Section 137(3) of the Constitution could not be applied retroactively.
Yet, other constitutional lawyers warn of a potential tenure crisis if Jonathan returns, citing the Supreme Court’s ruling in Marwa v. Nyako, which emphasized that no one should hold executive office beyond eight cumulative years.
High Stakes, Higher Risks
Amid rising discontent over President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and economic policies, many Nigerians—once critical of Jonathan—are now calling him back with apologies, says PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary Ibrahim Abdullahi.
“He’s a compassionate leader. Nigerians have realized the mistake of not re-electing him in 2015,” Abdullahi said.
With the PDP’s inner circle circling and the political chessboard shifting, Jonathan’s return could reshape the 2027 election into a titanic rematch—a test not just of political strategy, but of Nigeria’s democratic soul.
